Cleome plant named ‘Balcleoleam’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Cleome plant named ‘Balcleoleam’, characterized by its deep purple-violet colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Cleome hassleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcleoleam’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cleomeplant botanically known as Cleome hassleriana and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘Balcleoleam’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during August 2018. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Cleome cultivars lacky woody thorns andhaving a compact, upright growth habit.

The new Cleome cultivar is the result of cross-pollination followed byembryo rescue. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is SEÑORITAROSALITA ‘Inncleosr’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,733, characterized by itsmedium to light purple-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage,and vigorous, upright and compact growth habit. The male (pollen) parentof the new cultivar is ‘White Queen’, not patented, characterized by itswhite-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during May 2019 in a controlled environment inGuadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMay 2019 in Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstratedthat the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcleoleam’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Cleome plant:

-   -   1. Deep purple-violet colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having deeper purple-colored flowers, larger diameterinflorescences, and reduced growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivardiffer from plants of the male parent primarily in having deeppurple-colored flowers unlike the white-colored flowers of the maleparent and reduced growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Cleome cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is PEQUEÑA ROSALITA ‘Incleninro’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 27,012. However, in comparison, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Incleninro’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have slightly darker purple-violet        colored flowers than of plants of ‘Incleninro’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller compound leaves than        plants of ‘Incleninro’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller flower bracts than        plants of ‘Incleninro’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcleoleam’. Theplants were approximately 5-months old. The plants were grown in3-gallon containers for approximately 12 weeks in an outdoor nursery inWest Chicago, Ill. Plants were pinched twice prior to transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balcleoleam’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balcleoleam’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in August 2022 under naturallight conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately5-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grownunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in 3-gallon containers for approximately 12 weeks inan outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinchesprior to transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in apolycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatureswere maintained at approximately 75° F. to 80° F. (24° C. to 27° C.)during the day and approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18° C. to 21° C.)during the night. Supplemental lighting was used for first two weeksafter sticking. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Cleome hassleriana ‘Balcleoleam’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—SEÑORITA ROSALITA ‘Inncleosr’, U.S. Plant            Pat. No. 19,733.        -   Male parent.—‘White Queen’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 5 weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 10 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            compact, upright.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 61.0 cm. Width: Approximately 93.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 6.        -   Branch.—Shape: Round in cross section. Strength: Strong,            rigid. Length: Approximately 57.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 6.0 mm to 1.0 cm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of young stems: 144A. Color of            mature stems: 146B with an overlay of 187A, becomes woody            N199A with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 13. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Palmately            compound with 5 to 3 leaflets per leaf, woody thorns not            observed. Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Primarily perpendicular or obtuse angle to            stem. Overall shape: Obovate. Leaflet shape: Elliptic.            Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate.            Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 9.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            9.3 cm. Length of center leaflet: Approximately 8.0 cm.            Width of center leaflet: Approximately 3.6 cm. Length of            lateral leaflet: Approximately 6.0 cm. Width of lateral            leaflet: Approximately 3.0 cm. Length of lower leaflet:            Approximately 3.5 cm. Width of lower leaflet: Approximately            1.7 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Moderately            pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular            hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper            surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 137B with            venation of 147B. Color of lower surface of young and mature            foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 147C.        -   Rachis.—Length: Approximately 6.0 cm to 8.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B tinted with 187A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcleoleam’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from late spring through late summer and year-round            in greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            3 to 4 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal raceme. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 75. Fragrance: Strong musky. Length:            Approximately 8.0 cm to 17.0 cm. Width: Approximately 8.5 cm            to 11.5 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per            inflorescence: Approximately 3 to 5.        -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong, rigid. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 18.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately            4.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of            glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color: 146B to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Solitary, zygomorphic.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length: 1.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color of upper surface: N81A            to N81B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Rotate with petals positioned primarily on            one half. Aspect: Facing upright and outward. Width:            Approximately 3.2 cm by 2.5 cm. Depth: Approximately 8.0 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4 in a single whorl. Shape: Elliptic.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Base: Clawed. Length:            Approximately 2.0 cm including an approximately 4.0 mm claw.            Width: Approximately 1.0 cm and claw of approximately            1.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color            of upper surface when fully open: N81A to N81B with NN155D            at base of blade and claw of N81B. Color of lower surface            when fully open: NN155D with an overlay of N81C.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Star. Diameter: Approximately 1.7 cm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin:            Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately            7.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture of upper            (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface:            Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper (inner) surface: 137A with an            overlay of 187A. Color of lower (outer) surface: 137A with a            heavy overlay of 187A.        -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1, subtending each flower.            Shape: Cordate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Length:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Width: Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface:            137A. Color of lower surface: 137C.        -   Pedicels.—Strength: Strong, rigid. Aspect: Acute angle.            Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 6 per            flower. Filament length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Filament            color: 146D with N81A. Anther shape: Linear. Anther length:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Anther color: 15B. Pollen amount: None            observed. Gynoecium, persistent, held on a gynophore            (stalk): Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length            including gynophore: Approximately 1.9 cm. Stigma shape:            Capitate. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color:            N81A. Style length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Style color: N81A,            darkens to 187A with age. Ovary length: Approximately            7.0 mm. Ovary color: N81A, darkens to 187A with age.            Gynophore length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Gynophore diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Gynophore color: N81A, darkens to 187A            with age.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Cleome has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cleome plant named ‘Balcleoleam’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 